Jasmine pursed her lips. Jessi reached around the man from behind, grabbed his shirt by either side and tore it open, laying his chest and stomach bare. "Hey, Kirsten!" she called. "What'd you do with that cactus limb?"
"Oh, hell, Jessi, you don't want to beat the poor man with that thing," Chelsea said. "Not there, anyway." She nodded to Jasmine. "Let's yank off his pants. I mean, I think he'll talk faster."
Kirsten retrieved her limb and came forward, brushing it lightly over his chest, cactus spines raking his flesh. "Where did you leave Luke? Is he in that room you rented above the bar? Hmm?" She reached for his fly.
"Yes!" he shouted. Then, as she drew the club away, "How the hell did you know about the room?"
"City slicker," Jessi said. "You're clueless."
A huge pickup truck came skidding to a stop, sending up more dust clouds, and Brand men piled out of both doors and the back. They came running, then stopped and looked at the scene before them.
"You guys handle it from here," Jasmine said. "I'm going to find Luke."
"We'll send an ambulance, Jasmine," someone called.
She jumped in Chelsea's car and sped away.
She burst into the front part of the room, saw no one and raced through it, calling Luke's name. When she reached the bedroom she found him. He lay facedown on the floor, halfway into the small bathroom. His head was cut open, bleeding. His face was beaded with sweat and contorted in pain, and his eyes were squeezed shut tight.
She was beside him instantly. "Luke! It's all right. Hold on. Help is coming."
His eyes opened. He peered up at her. "You're alive…"
"Of course I'm alive. And Petronella's lucky to be. God, baby, what did he do to you?" She stroked his face, then dashed over him into the bathroom for a wet cool cloth. She wiped his face with it, then pressed it gently to the cut. "You have to be okay, Luke. Dammit, you have to be okay."
He smiled. "Doesn't matter. Just as long as you and Bax are."
She shook her head. "We won't be. Not if we don't have you."
His face changed. He looked surprised, but then something else. "Jasmine, even if I make it, I don't know … what I mean—I can't feel my legs, Jasmine. Not even a little."
"I love you, Luke," she whispered. "I finally understand what you were trying to tell me back there. I love you. Totally. I never thought I could feel this way for any man, but I do, and dammit, you promised me you'd help me start a new life. And I want that, Luke. I want to marry you. I want you to be a father to Baxter. I want that. Do you understand? So you just have to hang in there, Luke. You just have to. You have to."
He managed to smile, even past all the pain. "Well, hell, Jasmine, I couldn't die now if I wanted to. Not with an offer like that on the table."
* * *
Epilogue
« ^
"Welcome Home, Luke" the banner read, when Garrett and Wes pulled up at the brick house that had been known as the old Walker place. It wasn't anymore. The title now read Luke and Jasmine Brand.
Everyone had gathered for the celebration of Luke's release from the hospital. God, it had been three entire weeks. The physical therapy had been brutal and was ongoing. But he was getting better.
Mostly because of Jasmine.
She stood on the porch now, little Baxter in front of her, her hands on his shoulders. They both smiled widely as he got out of the pickup and limped up the walk. He carried a canvas tote in his free hand and leaned heavily on the cane that looked as if it was going to be his walking partner for a long time to come. Maybe forever.
He didn't give a damn. He had what mattered. Jasmine had married him in the hospital room. She'd refused to wait. The legal matters had taken longer, but Luke had had a visit from his lawyer today, just before his release, and now that part, too, was official.
Beyond Jasmine, the house was alive. He could see his family peering out every window and door, their smiles as bright as the happy tears in their eyes. They loved him. They loved her, too.
He made it to the steps, glanced at Garrett and Wes, who'd flanked him all the way, the overprotective lugs. "Can you keep them all at bay for just a sec?" Luke asked.
The men nodded and ran up the steps, into the house, where the party was waiting. They closed the door.
"I'm so glad you're home now, Luke!" Baxter came off the porch and hurled himself into Luke's arms. Jasmine started forward, but Luke held up a hand, caught his balance and hugged the boy back.
"Not half as glad as I am, Bax," he said. "But here. I have a little surprise for you. Two, actually. Now, the first one just can't wait, so you'd better take it now. It's in here." He held up the canvas tote bag.
Frowning, Bax parted it on top to look inside. A small brown puppy poked his head out the top and licked Baxter's nose. The boy squealed and scooped it up, hugging it close. "For me? Really, oh, really? Oh, Mom, can I keep him? Can I?"
Jasmine smiled damply, nodding her head hard, meeting Luke's eyes, love brimming from her own. He couldn't quite get used to that. A woman as special as this one, loving him the way she did.
Baxter sat on the steps, holding the squirming pup in his lap.
"I have one more surprise," Luke said. He pulled a document from his pocket, unfolded it. "This."
Baxter got up and handed the puppy to his mom so he could take a look.
"De…cree … of a…a…dop…adop…" He blinked and his eyes widened. "Adoption?" he asked, looking up at Luke.
"Yep. It's a whole lot of big words and legal terms, Bax, but what it means is that from now on, I'm officially your father."
Baxter's little lips quivered. Tears rose up and one fell over. He said, "You … you … you're my dad?" in a high, squeaky voice that wasn't like his own.
Luke nodded. He couldn't really talk just then. He leaned the cane against the porch, lowered himself onto the top step and folded his son into his arms. Baxter was hugging his neck so hard Luke almost couldn't breathe, and his tears were flowing so fast, Luke couldn't hold back his own.
"I've been wishing and wishing you could be my dad, Luke. And it came true. It really came true!" Baxter said.
Jasmine came down the steps, sat down beside Luke and leaned her head on his shoulder.
"From now on, Bax, I'm gonna make all your wishes come true. And your mom's, too. I promise."
He met Jasmine's eyes, saw that they were as wet as his own. She leaned in and kissed him on the lips, and she said, "You've already granted all mine, Luke. Even the ones I never knew I had."
The three of them embraced, and Luke knew he was home. They all were. Home.
THE HOMECOMING Page 20
